“We Never Looked Like Ourselves” – Chelsea Stunned as Everton End Historic Run

Chelsea’s long-standing aura of invincibility evaporated in a single afternoon as Everton delivered a shock that rippled across the Women’s Super League, ending the champions’ 34-match unbeaten streak with a gritty 1-0 win at Kingsmeadow.

The defeat marked Sonia Bompastor’s first league loss since taking charge 18 months ago, a stretch that had grown to 31 matches. But beyond the end of a record-breaking run, this result carries far greater weight. Chelsea now sits six points behind league leaders Manchester City, and suddenly the title race looks nothing like the foregone conclusion many expected.

For Everton, this was their first league victory since the opening weekend. For Chelsea, it was a reminder that dominance in the WSL is never guaranteed, not even for a club that has lifted every league title since 2019.

Everton landed their punch early. With just 12 minutes played, Toni Payne broke free down the right and delivered a teasing ball across the box. It rolled to the far post, where Honoka Hayashi calmly tapped it in, punishing Chelsea’s shaky defensive shape and setting the tone for the afternoon.

From that moment on, Chelsea controlled possession but rarely the game. They have already dropped six points this season, matching their total across the entire previous campaign. The clinical edge and swagger that defined their title charge last year simply weren’t there.

Alyssa Thompson offered one of the few bright moments when she burned past her marker and stung the palms of Courtney Brosnan, although she missed the chance to square to the unmarked Lauren James. Minutes later, Chelsea nearly equalized through an Everton mistake as Kelly Gago’s misdirected header forced Brosnan into a scrambling save to prevent an own goal.

Bompastor introduced Sam Kerr ten minutes after the restart in a bid to inject urgency. The Australian striker found space inside the box but dragged her shot wide, a moment that summed up Chelsea’s misfiring attack. Even set pieces brought frustration. Sandy Baltimore’s corner almost snuck in off a deflection, but Everton held their shape and their nerve.

As desperation grew, Chelsea turned the final minutes into a siege. Twice in stoppage time Everton cleared off the line, with Katja Snoeijs and Martina Fernández producing heroic blocks that will live long in the club’s memory. Then came the final twist. Baltimore stood over a late free kick, struck it cleanly, beat the wall, and beat the goalkeeper, but not the crossbar. It rattled violently and bounced out, sealing Chelsea’s fate.

The implications are huge. Chelsea’s era of total control now faces its toughest test. Manchester City has momentum, the gap is widening, and the champions suddenly have no margin for error. The psychological blow of finally losing may prove as damaging as the dropped points.

The question now is simple. Was this a rare stumble or the first real sign that the WSL throne is loosening under Chelsea?

The champions will have to answer quickly. The rest of the league is watching.